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Sunday 12 January 2020
Protest erupts after Iran admits to shooting down Ukrainian aircraft
Protesters took to the streets in Iran Saturday demanding justice over the shooting of a Ukrainian airliner that took the lives of all 176 on board.
Videos
of the protest show what looks to be hundreds of Iranians in front of
Amir Kabir University raising their fists, chanting and clapping their
hands. A candlelit vigil was held earlier at the university for the
victims of the shooting.
Demonstrators in Tehran held signs
written in Farsi, including the number 752 — the number of the Ukrainian
International Airlines flight — before the vigil erupted in protest.
“We gathered here because of some people’s (Iranian leaders)
inefficiency … because of some people’s inadequacy,” said an unnamed
woman at the vigil, whose words were translated by Reuters.
Iranians protest to show their sympathy to victims of Ukraine
International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir
University in Tehran, Iran, 11 January 2020.
EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
“Our children were killed in the sky. That’s why we gathered together here,” she said. “Where do we go?”
Reports
of the protests first emerged on social media Saturday, with unverified
footage showing crowds chanting for the removal of the country’s
political elite across the city.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency also reported on the protests
at Amir Kabir, stating that pictures of Qassem Soleimani, Iran’s top
general who had been killed in a U.S. air strike over a week ago, were
being ripped up by demonstrators.
Accounts that shared the
unverified footage on social media said that the protests were happening
at both Sharif University and Tehran University, as well as on the
streets of Tehran. The footage later showed that as protests delved
further into the night, Iranian security forces began using teargas,
live ammunition and water cannons to disperse the crowds.
The
U.K.’s envoy to Tehran, Rob Macaire, was also reported to have been
arrested Saturday after joining in the protests in front of Amir Kabir.
He was later released after several hours according to Tehran-based news
agency Tasnim.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned
Macaire’s arrest later on Saturday, calling it a “flagrant violation” of
international law.
“The Iranian government is at a cross-roads
moment,” read Raab’s statement. “It can continue its march towards
pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that
entails, or take steps to deescalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic
path forwards.”
The
Iranian regime arrested the British ambassador to Iran. This violates
the Vienna Convention, which the regime has a notorious history of
violating. We call on the regime to formally apologize to the UK for
violating his rights and to respect the rights of all diplomats.
The
U.S. State Department also spoke out against news of the U.K.
ambassador’s arrest, as did Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister
Francois-Philippe Champagne.
“We join our British allies in
calling out the temporary detention of the UK Ambassador in Tehran by
Iranian officials while he was attending a vigil for the victims of
flight #PS752,” Champagne tweeted Saturday night.
“Iran must respect international law and uphold the Vienna Convention.”
We
join our British allies in calling out the temporary detention of the
UK Ambassador in Tehran by Iranian officials while he was attending a
vigil for the victims of flight #PS752. Iran must respect international law and uphold the Vienna Convention. @DominicRaabhttps://t.co/tAiW8D0xqW
— François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) 🇨🇦 (@FP_Champagne) January 12, 2020
State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus tweeted that the arrest “violates the Vienna Convention.”
“We call on the regime to formally apologize to the UK for violating
his rights and to respect the rights of all diplomats,” she wrote on
Twitter.
In a series of tweets Saturday night, U.S. President Donald Trump praised the protests and called on Iran to allow them to continue undeterred.
To
the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the
beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to
stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired
by your courage.
“To
the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I’ve stood with you since the
beginning of my presidency, and my administration will continue to
stand with you,” read his first tweet. “We are following your protests
closely, and are inspired by your courage.”
“The government of
Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the
ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people,” said Trump in
another tweet.
“There can not be another massacre of peaceful
protesters, nor an internet shutdown,” continued Trump, referring to the
week-long internet shutdown in November.
The shutdown, which in
part stemmed from protests over the sudden hike of fuel and gas prices,
left over 140 dead according to Amnesty International.
The
government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report
facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people.
There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an
internet shutdown. The world is watching.
Iran, who at first denied international claims of having
downed the plane, confirmed in a statement Friday night that they had
unintentionally shot the airliner down due to a “human error.”
All
176 people on board — including 57 Canadians — were killed. Its
shooting happened mere hours after Iran launched several missiles at two
Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops in retaliation for Soleimani’s killing.
Iranians protest to show their sympathy to victims of Ukraine
International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir
University in Tehran, Iran, 11 January 2020.
EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday that he is “furious” and
“outraged” over the downing of the Ukrainian aircraft and called on Iran
to take full responsibility.
Speaking with reporters Saturday
afternoon, Trudeau said Iran’s admission that it was responsible for
shooting the plane down was an “important step,” but that the country
should now let a full investigation take place.
“This is an
accident or incident that is truly horrible, and I am angry, I’m
disappointed, but I am firmly committed to getting answers, and
compensation and help and justice for the victims,” said Trudeau.
“I am of course outraged and furious that families across this
country that are grieving their loved ones, that the Iranian-Canadian
community is suffering so greatly, that all Canadians are shocked and
appalled by this senseless loss of life.”
A government source has
told Global News that the first three Canadian consular officials landed
in Tehran Saturday. The officials, which are part of the Standing Rapid
Deployment team, are expected to be followed by more in the coming
days.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, said earlier Friday
that “human error at the time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led
to disaster.”
A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces:
Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster
Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. 💔
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 11, 2020
— With files from Reuters, Hannah Jackson and Eric Stober
The shutdown, which in
part stemmed from protests over the sudden hike of fuel and gas prices,
left over 140 dead according to Amnesty International.
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